Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-03
9ai11R eagle
AMERICAN DRINKS IN ENGLAND.
Experience ~ the "American Bar" Pre-
priStor.The Mint Julep StorY,

experience ~ the "American Bar" Pre-
pristor-Ths Mint Julcp storT.
when I opened the American bar in
Liverpool, such a thing cs q cocktail, . sour,
1ulep, a cobbier, a fizz, or even plain rye or
bourbon whiskey was something that had
been heard Of but by few, and tasted by none,
among those who were to become my imme-
diate and regular customers Brandy and
soda, 'aif and 'aif, gin, hot toddy, porter,
and ale, were the favorite and only tipples, as
they had been for untold generations My
bar, backed by true New York display OF
glitterinS glassware, plate glass mirrors and
bottles of many colored liquids, with white
coated handsome young men ready to serve
the customers, in place OF the traditional bar
maid, was fiocked to as if j: had been mu-
scum of rare curiosities-
~Bu. my American drinks went begging
The old time English beverages were still
good enough for the loyal Britons, and when
the persistent tips they rendered the bar-
tenders were as persistently refused, it seemed
TO appear to them as if the very bulwarks CT
the nation were being assailed, and that tho
throne itself was tottering. But by degrees,
as cxigencies occurred which enabled me to
demonstrate to customers the efficacy OF
Yankee decoctions in cases OF expanded head,
stomschic arrangement superinduced by too
much prolonged dalliance with ElercilesS
English tippIes, and other physical and mental
disturbances which, l am frank to say, would
ever have remained unknown had there mover
been either American or other bar, they came
to recognize the fact that if there could be
any excuse for patronizing bar at al, it
could only be found in patroni2iug one where
Yankee beverages could be had. One prac-
teal customer, in referring to ths coming
around Of the British public to this stage,
said that it was as if they first depised, then
ritied, then embraced.
Il had one customer who developed q great
fondnoes for the mint julep. No matter
whether the weather was hot or cold, be
wanted his mint julep, and be wanted it with
ernazin. frequency. He was n man OF con-
sequence, and l thought he would certainly
be ablo to appreciate an American joke as
well ~ en- American drink, so one day l re-
lated TO him that bold but respectable anec-
cote about the man who went to Virginia,
before the war, and became acquainted with
. hospitable resident The resident had plenty
Of good material for conviyiality, and the
visitor, having recipe for the concocting of
mint iUlep, thought that his host was vast
ing both stuff and opportunity in being
mo- o. Tie e3iSiSuCc VI Ao
visitor found that there was fine bed of
mint Oh tho plantation, and he led his host,
accom- panied by jug ard other ingredients,
to tbs spot There he brewed the julep and
captured the planters heart. The visitor
taught tho Virginian bow to distil this here |
tofore 20 him unknown nectar. and in time |
took his departure a year later he had |
business again in Virginia, and be lost no |
time in hunting up his old host He went to |
the plantation lis knock being answered |
By an old negro, lie asked the servant for his |
master.
"'Ol n.ars's dead, sah,' replied the old |
negro. Dab was white man come long |
h'yah bout yea go an teach OF mars TO |
drink grass in he hckah, an OF mars donA /
gwan drinl; hisse'f to def, sah'
Il told that to my julep loving customer
expecting 10 be rewarded with an upp-e !
ciative laugh. He was iInbfbinC one of bis
beverages az the time. He quit drinking
looked solemn, cast regretful look at tbs
mint IL his glass, and went out and never
came back He had taken the St ~ literally |
and drew a moral from it at once. New
York Sun